Nicole M.

Escudero

BSED-4

The Scent of Apples

SUMMARY:

The Scent of Apples was all about a man who was the Narrator sincerely would like to know how was
the Filipino women like twenty years ago and when he met a man in the hall named Celestino Fabia
raised her hands up and said that women twenty years ago were the same of the attitude, although
there could have been changed but it was only on the outside appearance but the same in the heart.
These people are immigrants and have not returned yet to the hometown due to poverty cause, and
they were just a poor farmer in Kalamazoo.

CHARACTERS:

Mr. Santos – the one who narrated the story, he’s the one who went to the Kalamazoo and they have
met with Celestino Fabia and shared some thoughts about the Philippines.
“When I arrived in Kalamazoo it was October and the war was still on.”

Celestino Fabia – a farmer and has a farm in the Kalamazoo. A father and a husband of his own family.

"just a Filipino farmer" as he called himself, who had a farm about thirty miles east of Kalamazoo.
Ruth – wife of Fabia and a mother of their only son, Roger. She’s a country girl who haven’t met any
Filipino.

“Ruth is a country girl and hasn't met many Filipinos. I mean Filipinos younger than I, cleaner looking.”
Roger – son of Ruth and Roger. He’s studying at the town and was picked by a school bus for school.

“Roger, that's my boy, he goes to school in town. A bus takes him early in the morning and he's back in
the afternoon. He's nice boy."

SETTINGS:

Fabia’s home – it is where after the talk at the Hall, Celestino Fabia then had a favor for Mr. Santos if he
could go to their house to meet his family and have a dinner there.
"Will you do me a favor, please," he continued smiling almost sweetly. "I want you to have dinner with my
family out in the country. I'd call for you tomorrow afternoon, then drive you back. Will that be alright?"
"Of course," I said. "I'd love to meet your family."

CONFLICT:
It is when Fabia uttered his thoughts about the question in the forum which goes “tell me what our
women like twenty years ago?” at his young age he confidently raised his hands in the hall.

“The man stood to answer. "Yes," he said, "you're too young . . . Twenty years ago our women were nice,
they were modest, they wore their hair long, they dressed proper and went for no monkey business. They
were natural, they went to church regular, and they were faithful."
THEME:

it is somehow very hard for the immigrants to look back where they belong especially when they are
poor in the country they lived. They need to be strong and fight the life battle.

SYMBOLISM:

“Scent of Apples” it is the feeling of nostalgia the people experience when they go abroad. They were
separated from the town they grown up and not feeling anymore how was like it to be back again.